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NATIONAL FEDERATION of MUSIC CLUBS

NATIONAL FEDERATION OF MUSIC CLUBS

JUNIOR DIVISION FEDERATION FESTIVALS

PROCEDURES MANUALJUNE 2017

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Table of Contents Purpose of the NFMC Festivals Program 3 Membership & Eligibility 3 Festivals 4 Festival Chairs Responsibilities 4 Festivals Committee 7 Festivals Area Procedures 7 NFMC Rating Sheets 11 NFMC Certificates 11

Theory Orders 12 Liability Insurance 13 Festival Fees 13 Teacher Responsibilities 14 State-to-State Transfers 15 Evaluations for Rural/Military Families & Online Media 15 State Festivals 16 NFMC Bulletin 16 Bulletin Editor 16

Specially Capable Junior/Adult Musician 16 Scores 18 NFMC Federation Cup 19 Purpose of the NFMC Federation Cup Program 19 Federation Cup Chair Responsibilities 20 Federation Cup Award Plan 21 Musicianship/Theory 22

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PURPOSE OF THE NFMC FESTIVALS PROGRAM

Festivals are designed for ALL members of the NFMC. Festivals are not a competition but an

opportunity to perform and receive evaluation. The National Federation of Music Clubs sets the

rules and all Festivals are administered by the respective State Federation of Music Clubs in

accordance with the rules as stated in the NFMC Festivals Bulletin. No exceptions will be made.

The National Festivals Chair, in consultation with the proper authorities, may pass final judgment

on questions or interpretation of rules and procedures (Standing Rules, K-1).

The National Federation of Music Clubs Festivals provide young musicians and adults (age 19

and above) opportunities and encouragement for continued musical growth. Over 140 solo and

ensemble events are available to participants. Entrants are evaluated on their individual merits.

The Festivals are intended for students at all levels of ability.

MEMBERSHIP & PARTICIPATION ELIGIBILITY

A Junior Club Counselor or a Teacher entering students in Junior Festival shall be required to be

a member of a Senior Active Organization or be an Individual Member of the State and National

Federation. (Standing Rules, K-1; 8-3-00).

Each teacher of Festival entrants must be a senior member of the NFMC, either as a Senior

Club member or a Senior Individual member. Additionally, all individual teachers affiliated with a

conservatory must be Senior members. NFMC Bylaws Article III, Section 3A defines

membership.

All participating teachers, counselors, and Festival Chairs must be federated through

membership in the National Federation of Music Clubs (retired JR 3-14).

Junior entrants must be a member of an active Junior Club or be a Junior Individual member

(refer to NFMC Bylaws Article III, Section 5). Group entrants may be associate members of the

State and National Federations (Standing Rules, K-1).

Junior entrants must be under 19 years of age on the date of Festival (Standing Rules, K-1; 6-8-

11).

Adult entrants must be members of an active Student or Senior Club or be a Student or Senior

Individual member (Standing Rules K-1). Student members are age 19 – 26 (General Rules

2017 Bulletin, pg. 1).

Membership dues must be current and are separate from Festival Fees (Standing Rules, K-1).

Membership dues must be current in your state before Festival entries can be processed

(General Rules 2017 Bulletin, pg. 1).

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A five-dollar ($5) fine shall be assessed to each Junior Club whose dues are not postmarked to

the NFMC Treasurer by February 1st (Standing Rules, J-4; 8-10-03).

The State Treasurer’s Membership Dues for report to NFMC must be current each year. Check

on the deadline with the NFMC Treasurer (General Rules 2017 Bulletin, pg. 1).

Dues are determined by each State Federation and include a fixed amount for national dues


FESTIVAL CHAIR RESPONSIBILITIES

NFMC Festivals Chair

• There shall be one Festival Chair for both Adult and Junior Festivals with the title, “NFMC

Festivals Chair” (Standing Rules, K-1; 8-9-03).

• The NFMC Festivals Chair must be a senior member of the National Federation of Music

Clubs, either as a Senior Club member or Senior Individual member (retired JR 3-14).

• All NFMC festival certificates and theory tests are ordered through the NFMC Festivals

Chair. The NFMC Festivals Chair is responsible for creating the ordering form, sending it

by email to all State Festivals Chairs and/or State Presidents, setting the deadline for

ordering, and transmitting orders to NFMC Headquarters. All twelve year and above

certificates are authorized and sent directly from the NFMC Festivals Chair to the

specified recipient.

• The NFMC Festivals Chair is the Chair of the NFMC Festivals Committee and chairs the

annual NFMC Festivals Meeting at the NFMC Conference/Convention.

• The NFMC Festivals Chair is responsible for bringing all items approved in the NFMC

Festivals Meeting to the Junior Division for consideration and subsequent vote.

• The NFMC Chair must prepare a national Festivals summary report by June 30th and

send two copies to the NFMC Junior Division Chair (retired JR 3-14).

• The NFMC Festivals Chair must keep an up-to-date database of all State Festivals Chairs

and notify Regional Festivals Chairs of any changes in their respective areas.

• The NFMC Festivals Chair is responsible for updating all Junior Division forms pertaining

to NFMC Festivals and for updating the Festivals page in the NFMC Manual.

• All pertinent records must be saved and passed on to the National Festivals Chair’s

successor at the end of his/her term of office.

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NFMC Regional Festivals Chairs

• There is one Regional Festivals Chair for each of the five NFMC regions of the United

States. Each Regional Chair will be the liaison between the State Festivals Chairs in their

respective regions and the National Festivals Chair.

• All Regional Chairs must be senior members of the National Federation of Music Clubs

either as a Senior Club member or Senior Individual member (retired JR 3-14).

• All five Regional Festivals Chairs serve on the NFMC Festivals Committee. As part of the

NFMC Festivals Committee, regional Chairs in the five designated regions will be

responsible for: Voting as part of the NFMC Festivals Committee and being aware of all

issues on the agenda and recommendations to the Junior Division at the NFMC

Conventions/Conferences (retired JR 3-14).

• Regional Chairs will be included and consulted after state officers with all inquiries,

conflicts, or policy clarifications in their region before contacting the National Festivals

Chair/Officers, and will provide regional assistance with policy resolutions (retired JR 3-

14).

• Regional Chairs must receive all JR 3-3 information from each state in their region by May

31st. The Regional Chairs must submit to the National Chair a composite of all states in

their region showing all events that occurred in their region and the total number of

participants for each state, as well as a composite report of consecutive superiors for

each state in their region no later than June 10th. Separate reports for Junior and Adult

Festivals should be submitted. Junior and Adult reports should not be combined.

Regional Festivals Chairs do not report financial figures for the states in their respective

regions to the NFMC Festivals Chair (retired JR 3-14, 2017 JR 3-3).

• Current Regional Chairs are listed in the NFMC Directory and in the Junior Keynotes

publication (retired JR 3-14).

State Festivals Chair

• The State Festivals Chair acts as a liaison between his/her state’s Area Festival Chairs

and the Regional Festival Chair.

• All State Festivals Chairs must be Senior members of the National Federation of Music

Clubs either as a Senior Club member or Senior Individual member (General Rules 2017

Bulletin, pg. 1).

• State Chairs need to secure one copy of each NFMC publication used for Federation

Festivals from the nfmc-music.org website. Select those publications that will be

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necessary for your state’s Festivals. Direct Area Chairs to these publications online and

provide guidance to them if they should need assistance in understanding the forms

(NFMC 2017-2019 Manual).

• All State Festivals Chairs must become familiar with all rules and regulations. State

Festivals Chairs must be familiar with the NFMC Festivals Bulletin, the NFMC Junior Division Federation Festivals Procedures Manual (JR 3-18) and directives from the National Chair. Additionally, State Chairs need to read Junior Keynotes for up-to-date information (retired JR 3-14, NFMC 2017-2019 Manual).

• State Chairs need to ensure that all Area Chairs have all necessary Festival materials,

including directives from the National Chair (retired JR 3-14).

• State Chairs are responsible for communicating any changes at the State and National levels to their Area Festival Chairs.

• State Chairs should try to hold a Festivals Workshop at least once a year for all Area

Chairs within their state. During that time instructions can be given, problems discussed, festival supplies distributed, dates set for area festivals, recordkeeping explained, etc (NFMC 2017-2019 Manual).

• In collaboration with State Federations, the State Festival Chair should develop

guidelines for Federation Festivals in his/her state. Guidelines must adhere to NFMC rules (NFMC 2017-2019 Manual).

• State Chair reports are due to Regional Chairs no later than May 31st. Prepare 3 copies

of state JR 3-3. Do not combine Junior and Adult reports. Match figures on State Chair’s JR 3-3 with State Treasurer’s JR 3-7. Send one copy of the state JR 3-3 and one copy of each area JR 3-3 to Regional Chair. Send one copy of the state JR 3-3 with entry fees to NFMC Headquarters no later than June 1st. A copy of both the treasurer’s report and the JR 3-3 must accompany the report to national (retired JR 3-14, JR 3-7).

• State Chairs keep one copy of state JR 3-3 and area JR 3-3/3-4 reports for your own

records. Check area JR 3-4 with previous years for correct progression and accuracy of Consecutive Superiors (retired JR 3-14).

• State Chairs must send any adjustments or corrections of reports to the Regional Chair

no later than May 31st of the Festival year.

• Keep records at the State level for 12 years. All pertinent records must be saved and

passed on to the State Chair’s successor at the end of his/her term of office.

• All reports, requests, and certificates must go through the State Chair (NFMC 2017-2019

Manual).

• NFMC certificates are sent directly to State Chairs for distribution (retired JR 3-14). • State Festival Chairs must place orders for national musicianship tests, state certificates

and honor certificates for Superiors by the deadline determined by the National Festivals Chair. Estimate the number based on last year’s state festival report plus a 10% increase (retired JR 3-14).

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• State Chairs need to set a deadline well before October 1st for their Area Chairs to place their orders with them for certificates and musicianship materials (retired JR 3-14).

• State Chairs are responsible for making sure Festival Fees are computed accurately and

for reminding the State Treasurer to pay NFMC no later than June 1st (NFMC 2017-2019 Manual).

Area Festivals Chair

• Each Area Festival is directed by a Chair who works cooperatively with the State

Festivals Chair and the State President to facilitate festivals in their state. If there is a

question or problem, the Area Chair should first contact the State Festivals Chair. For

additional assistance, questions should be directed to the State Junior Counselor and/or

the State President, and then to the Regional Festivals Chair. If a conflict or issue cannot

be resolved through the aforementioned channels, the issue should then be brought to

the National Festivals Chair (retired JR 3-14).

• It is imperative that Area Chairs read the NFMC Junior Division Federation Festivals

Procedures Manual (JR 3-18), the NFMC Festivals Bulletin and the directives and

updates from their State Festivals Chair in order to become familiar with all rules and

regulations. Additionally, Area Chairs should read their Junior Keynotes for updates and

pertinent information in order to assist with their knowledge base regarding rules and

regulations.

• All Area Festival Chairs must be Senior members of the National Federation of Music

Clubs, either as a Senior Club member or Senior Individual Member (General Rules

Bulletin 2017, pg. 1).

NFMC FESTIVALS COMMITTEE The Festivals Committee shall consist of the NFMC Festivals Chair, five Regional Festivals

Chairs, NFMC Federation Cup Chair, Festivals Bulletin Editor (ex-officio), and Junior Keynotes

Editor (ex-officio) (Standing Rules, J-4 and K-1).

FESTIVAL AREA PROCEDURES

Guidelines for Area Chairs:

• Area Chairs need to read the NFMC Festivals Bulletin, the NFMC Junior Division

Federation Festivals Procedures Manual and Junior Keynotes as well as all directives and

updates from their State Festivals Chair to become familiar with all rules and regulations.

• Area Chairs set the date(s) for Festival and arrange for venue, pianos, and judges.

Qualified judges must be provided for each event (retired JR 3-14).

• It is the Area Chair’s responsibility to review the NFMC Liability Insurance offered for

Festival events. While coverage is optional, purchase is strongly encouraged!! Insurance

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is available for purchase through your State President and/or State Insurance Chair.

Please contact your State President and/or Insurance Chair for deadline information.

State clearly if you will need a proof of insurance certificate in hard copy form. Child

Protection Forms MUST be submitted with insurance requests and payments, as required

by our insurance provider. No insurance request will be fulfilled unless this Child

Protection Form is submitted properly. All State Insurance Chairs are listed on the NFMC

website.

• Special Instructions: There MUST be a MINIMUM of two (2) adults, who may be judges,

present AT ALL TIMES in the audition room. The two adults may not include the teacher

or parent of the entrant.

• The Area Chair must communicate with his/her State Festivals Chair regarding festival

dates, materials needed, certificates (State and Superior Certificates), and musicianship

tests. These materials must be ordered through the State Festival Chair before October

1st of each year. Use the previous Area Report as a guide for ordering certificates and if

applicable, allow for 10% growth from the previous year’s report (retired JR 3-14).

• Chairs can download all other needed forms from the NFMC website: www.nfmc-

music.org. These forms can be found under the “Publications” tab and are available for

free in a PDF format (retired JR 3-14).

• Area Chairs must inform junior counselors, teachers, and special members of festival date

and place, and remind them that photocopies are not permitted. Online music must be

obtained from legitimate sources and accompanied by hard copy receipt or studio license

(retired JR 3-14).

• Chairs must remind all teachers and junior counselors that they MUST BE FEDERATED

to be eligible to place entrants in area festivals. You should be familiar with all rules

pertaining to federating (retired JR 3-14).

• Area Chairs send each teacher and junior counselor the number of application forms

required and set a deadline for returning the applications. If dues have not been paid,

applications should not be processed. For areas with online application capabilities,

teachers who have failed to pay dues should not be allowed to gain access to the area’s

online registration system until all dues are made current (retired JR 3-14).

• Area Chairs are responsible for notifying teachers immediately if any error is found in

applications or if insufficient dues or fees have been paid (General Rules 2017 Bulletin,

pg. 7).

• The Area Festivals Chair is responsible for setting a deadline for return of festival

applications. It is recommended that this be at least eight to ten weeks prior to Festival.

This would permit most juniors time to learn another piece should the selected literature

http://www.nfmc-music.org/

http://www.nfmc-music.org/

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be incorrect. Registration using the NFMC Online Festivals Management System will

insure that a correct required piece is selected. The Area Chair must notify teachers

immediately if there is an error in the choice piece selection (General Rules 2017 Bulletin,

pg. 7).

• It is the Area Festivals Chair’s responsibility to check completed applications for the

following: age of performer, proper classification/progression, and required composition

listed in the Festivals Bulletin, appropriateness of music and composer of choice

selection. Contact teacher or junior counselor IMMEDIATELY in the event of any

discrepancy (retired JR 3-14).

• Area Chairs need to review any request for SCJM or SCAM status. These requests must

be submitted on form JR 3-13. Parents must sign the form if the entrant is a minor child.

Adult entrants must sign the application. Discuss with the State Festival Chair and

complete the form with instructions to judges prior to the Festival.

• Send all judges information on the Festivals Program, assessment guidelines, and a copy

of the rating sheet they will be using (retired JR 3-14).

• Make sure all judges understand the vision of the NFMC Festivals Program and rating

system through a thorough judges briefing prior to the event. Specifically communicate to

the judges that their duties do not include comparing entrants and selecting participants to

go on to a state competitive event (if applicable) but to evaluate students on their

individual merits and in accordance with the assessment guidelines detailed on the rating

sheet. Try to “pair” judges with events/classes with which they have had extensive

experience teaching, mentoring, or adjudicating if possible (retired JR 3-14).

• In cooperation with the treasurer, send payment of state and national festival fees to the

State Treasurer within two weeks after the conclusion of your area festival. NFMC

deadline is May 20th but state boards may establish an earlier deadline (retired JR 3-14,

JR 3-3).

• Submit festival income and expense balance sheets to State Festivals Chair along with

your report within two weeks following your area festival (retired JR 3-14).

• It is recommended that Area Chairs compile their local Festival report and send their state

and national Festival entry fees to the State Treasurer and State Festivals Chair within

two weeks following their Area Festival event. The NFMC deadline for Area reports and

fees to be sent to the State Chair is May 20th. Each state board may establish an earlier

deadline. Make four copies of your report. Send one to the State Festivals Chair, one to

State Treasurer along with entry fees collected. Keep one hard copy in your files (retired

JR 3-14, 2017 JR 3-3).

• Keep records at the local level for 12 years. Prepare for the NFMC Online Festivals

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Management System (retired JR 3-14).

Festivals Scheduling Guidelines for Area Chairs:

• Performance time is determined by the number of minutes on the application plus 3 or 4

minutes for judges to make evaluation. Give the judges time to write. Do not schedule

students too close together (retired JR 3-14).

• Send performance schedule to the applicable teachers two to four weeks prior to the

festival day (retired JR 3-14).

• Judges should also have a performance schedule (retired JR 3-14).

Suggested Festival Day Assistants to Area Chairs (retired JR 3-14):

• Auditor: Record ratings for Festival reports. These ratings are also placed on the state

certificates.

• Registrar: Check names of participants upon arrival against prepared list and confirm

that published music has been brought for use by the judges.

• Door Monitor: Keep silence in the room during performance. Keep space outside

adjudication room quiet.

• Page: Direct students to area where they are to perform. Pages used outside the room

may act as runners to take rating sheets to the auditioning room.

• Publicity: Emphasize that the NFMC and the State Federation sponsor the Festivals.

• Promotion: Arrange display area for junior achievements, materials, and scrapbooks.

Feature senior club achievement books.

• Rating Sheets and State Certificates: Give to teachers and junior counselors ONLY

AFTER all records are justified and recorded by the auditor.

Area Festival Reports:

• All applications and reports should be typed or printed and duplicated according to the

instructions on the form. All information must be complete, accurate, legible, numbered,

and dated.

• Prepare two separate reports if there are both Junior and Adult Festival participants.

Designate on each report whether Junior or Adult report. Prepare four copies of each JR

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3-3 report and send two copies (Adult and Junior) to the State Festivals Chair, one copy

of each report, with your entry fees to your State Treasurer, keeping one copy for your

files. This process should take place no later than two weeks after your Festival Day

(retired JR 3-14). NFMC deadline for Area Reports to be sent to the State Chair is May

20th. State boards may establish an earlier deadline (JR 3-3).

• Prepare two copies of the JR 3-4 report and send one copy to the State Festivals Chair no

later than the NFMC deadline of May 20th (or no later than the state board’s established

deadline). Again, prepare separate reports for Junior and Adult participants. Keep one

copy of each report. A computer printout is acceptable; be sure information is complete

and follows the format indicated by the instructions on the form (retired JR 3-14).

• All reports must be submitted to the State Festivals Chair on or before the state deadline.

NFMC deadline is May 20th (JR 3-3).

NFMC RATING SHEETS All Area Festivals must use the official NFMC Rating Sheet for Federation Festivals (JR 3-9).

Ratings other than those titled “Superior, Excellent, Satisfactory, Fair, Needs Improvement” will

no longer be recognized by NFMC for Consecutive Superior National Certificates or Federation

Festivals Cup point accrual and will be non-transferable between states (Standing Rule K-2

2017).

NFMC CERTIFICATES

• Every entrant who earns a Superior rating in Festival is entitled to receive a National

Superior Certificate. The cost of these certificates is included in his/her entry fee. An

entrant may earn a certificate in each event in which he/she is entered (retired JR 3-14).

• All Superior certificates, 1 yr through 11 yr are blue, 12 yr and above are special colors

(retired JR 3-14).

• For twelve year and above Consecutive Superior Certificates only, a JR 3-16 form for

each individual must be completed. The process begins with the teacher or Area Chair.

Twelve year and above consecutive superior certificates must be ordered AFTER the

Festival by the Area Chair. The Area Chair submits the completed JR 3-16 to the State

Festivals Chair for approval. The State Festivals Chair forwards the completed form to the

National Festivals Chair for approval (retired JR 3-14).

• The deadline for twelve year and above Consecutive Superior Certificates applications to

be sent to the National Festivals Chair for processing is June 1st of the current Festival

year.

• All NFMC Festival certificates are ordered through the NFMC Festivals Chair. The NFMC

Festivals Chair is responsible for creating the ordering form, sending it by email to all

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State Festivals Chairs, setting the deadline for orders, and for transmitting the orders to

NFMC Headquarters. All twelve year and above certificates are authorized and sent

directly from the NFMC Festivals Chair to teachers, unless otherwise specified.

• Requests for state certificates must be placed by the State Festivals Chair using the order

form sent to them by the National Festivals Chair. Completed order forms must then be

sent directly to the NFMC Festivals Chair by the prescribed deadline either by U.S. Postal

Service or by email.

• State Chairs should order certificates based on a 10% increase from the previous year to

allow for potential festival growth in their state.

• State Festival Chairs have the option of personalizing their State Certificates but need to

send a jpeg file of applicable State President and/or Festival Chair’s signature along with

the certificate order form. There will be a slight increase in the individual price of the

certificates for this service so State Festivals Chairs need to go through necessary state

channels to make sure the expenditure is authorized.

• Shipping costs vary depending on the number of certificates being ordered. For precise

shipping costs, State Chairs should consult NFMC Headquarters. Orders sent to multiple

addresses will be charged on a per package basis.

• If the State Festivals Chair wishes to have state certificates sent directly to his/her Area

Festivals Chairs, he/she will need to include with his/her certificate order an Excel or

Word file with the address, phone number, and email contact information for each Area

Festivals Chair along with the quantity and type of certificates that should be sent to each.

• Unless prior arrangements have been made, all NFMC state certificates are sent directly

to the State Festivals Chair.

• Area Festivals Chairs are no longer permitted to place orders for certificates with NFMC

Headquarters. All orders must be placed through the State Festivals Chair.

• State Certificates cannot be scanned and uploaded to state websites.

• Consecutive Superior Certificates are optional. Each Area Chair may choose whether or

not to use these certificates (NFMC Bulletin 2017, pg. 7).

NFMC THEORY TEST ORDERS

• All NFMC Theory tests and answer keys can only be ordered by the State Festivals Chair

through the National Festivals Chair. Area Festivals Chairs are no longer allowed to order

theory tests and answer keys through NFMC Headquarters.

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• Theory tests and answer keys are ordered on the same form as the state certificates. The

order form can be obtained from the National Festivals Chair.

• Theory tests and answer keys can be sent to the State Festivals Chair as a PDF file at no

cost. Printed copies will be sent via USPS as requested by the State Chair.

• NFMC Headquarters will send PDF copies of the theory tests and answer keys to State

Festivals Chairs ONLY; not to Area Festivals Chairs.

• Theory tests are to be distributed to the Area Festivals Chairs by the State Festivals Chair

no earlier than 2 weeks before the area Festival event.

• Any changes or corrections in the tests/answer keys will be sent via email to the State

Festivals Chair.

• All PDF copies of the theory tests and answer keys are to be deleted from Festival Chairs’s

computers within two weeks of their last area festival event.

• NFMC Theory tests and answer keys are proprietary materials. Federated states and/or

area festivals cannot create and administer theory tests that do not originate from NFMC.

LIABILITY INSURANCE

See Guidelines for Area Chairs pg. 7.

FESTIVAL FEES

• Festival fees are separate from membership dues (Standing Rules, K-2).

• Required National and State fees must be paid to the Area Festivals Chair by each entrant

for each event entered (Standing Rules, K-2).

• In addition to the required NFMC entrance fee, a per capita “surcharge” may be added

when needed to cover only Festival expenses, provided it is not combined with any other

fees. After all expenses are paid, any remaining amount may be held towards the next

year’s Festival expenses, may be applied to Junior Scholarships and Awards, or used at

the states’ discretion as approved by the states’ BOD (Standing Rules, K-2).

• Fees due to National must be paid before receiving Festival Certificates and/or Federation

Cups (Standing Rules, K-2).

• Teachers may not charge festival entry fees in excess of the amount established by the

Area Festivals Chair/Committee. State boards may set a financial penalty for failure to

comply (Standing Rule K-2).

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• Teachers must not personally add additional amounts to Festival Fees above that charged

by the Area Festival (General Rules, 2017 Bulletin, pg. 1)

• States and/or Areas cannot charge fees that are contrary to established NFMC General

Rules and guidelines for the Junior Festivals Program.

TEACHER RESPONSIBILITIES

• Teachers are responsible for complying with all directives from the National Chair, the

Regional Chair, the State Chair, and the Area Chair (General Rules, 2017 Bulletin, pg. 7).

• Teachers are responsible for correctly selecting classifications and music (General Rules,

2017 NFMC Bulletin, pg. 7).

• The teacher is responsible for meeting all deadlines (General Rules, 2017 NFMC Bulletin,

pg. 7).

• The teacher should be available to assist the Area Chair when needed, either prior to the

Festival, or at the Festival site (General Rules, 2017 NFMC Bulletin, pg. 7).

• The teacher must keep up to date on all Festival information by reading the Festival

section found in each Junior Keynotes Magazine and by checking the NFMC website for

any Bulletin corrections (General Rules, NFMC Bulletin 2017, pg. 7).

• Each teacher must own a current NFMC Festivals Bulletin.

• In the case of an error made by the teacher that results in the disqualification of a student,

the teacher is to cover the expenses and assist the area Chair in making the arrangements

for the performance with qualifying repertoire (General Rules, 2017 NFMC Bulletin, pg. 7).

• Should there be an error on the part of the teacher which would disqualify the entrant (e.g.

incorrect choice of literature, photocopies, etc.), the following options may be selected with

the assistance of the Area Chair:

a. The entrant may be entered in another Festival in the state at a later date. The

teacher will be responsible for any additional fees incurred; or

b. A make-up date may be set for the entrant to perform. The teacher may assist

the area Chair in securing a judge. Any expenses must be satisfied by the

teacher.

Should either of these two options be used, the Area Chair’s reporting deadlines must not

be compromised.

• Teachers must enter only those entrants whom they personally teach in the event(s)

entered (Standing Rules, K-2).

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• Every teacher whose students participate in NFMC Festivals is required to subscribe to

Junior Keynotes (Standing Rules, K-2; 6-27-05).

STATE-TO-STATE TRANSFERS

Currently, state-to-state transfer information is verified through use of the JR 3-1 NFMC form. The

JR 3-1 form can be obtained from the NFMC website under “Publications.” Once the online

Festival Management System is fully functional for all states, the current process for transfers will

no longer exist.

It is the responsibility of the transfer student(s) new teacher to collect as much information as

possible from the student/parent/guardian to submit on the form.

Once the teacher completes the form, he/she submits it to his/her Area Chair who sends it to the

State Festival Chair.

Verification of state-to-state transfer information is obtained only through communications

between State Festivals Chairs or other designated State officials who maintain State Festivals

records.

EVALUATIONS FOR RURAL/MILITARY FAMILIES & ONLINE MEDIA

Entrants located overseas or in an area where no Festival is located may participate if:

• The original area or state collects dues and fees

• All rules and procedures are followed as outlined in the current Bulletin, and

• A video recording is sent for review and rating; or a Skype or FaceTime evaluation

is scheduled with the approval of the Area Festivals Chair and judged with the same

criteria as a live audition.

Respective State Federation of Music Clubs shall set and administer the rules for

Federation Festival entries involving teachers using virtual adjudication. Students must be

registered in the state where the teacher is Federated (Standing Rules, K 2-3).

• Entrants using online media for long distance instruction may participate if:

a. The entrant is registered in the Area Festival where the teacher has membership;

b. The entrant may travel to the area on Festival day; or

c. The entrant will have an evaluation using the same online media as is used for

instruction. The adjudication will be scheduled with the approval of the Area

Festivals Chair and judged with the same criteria since it will be a live audition

(General Rules, NFMC 2017 Bulletin, pg. 5).

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STATE FESTIVALS

All Area Festival Centers are established by the State Board of Directors. Individual teachers may

not establish a Festival Center. The State Festivals Chair shall be appointed by the State Board

of Directors. The State shall have on file a list of all Festival Centers and Area Festival Chairs.

The NFMC Festivals Bulletin cannot be reproduced online for the purpose of Area or State

Festivals registration, in part or in whole, without password protection on the site on which it is

being published and without written permission from the NFMC.

NFMC BULLETIN

The National Federation of Music Clubs sets rules and the respective State Federations

administer the Festivals Program in accordance with the rules that appear in the Festivals

Bulletin. No exceptions to these rules will be made (2015-2017 Manual).

• The Bulletin is under copyright protection and cannot be reproduced by any means, stored

in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical,

photocopying, recording or otherwise) without written permission of the National

Federation of Music Clubs (Title page, 2017 Bulletin).

• The life of the NFMC Festivals Bulletin will be four (4) years beginning with 2017- 2020

(Standing Rules, J-4).

• There shall be a Festivals Bulletin publication deadline of March 1st of the publication year

(Standing Rules, J-4).

NFMC BULLETIN EDITOR

The NFMC Bulletin Editor oversees the production of the NFMC Festivals Bulletin and arranges

for its delivery to NFMC Headquarters (Manual 2015-2017).

The term of office for the Federation Festivals Bulletin Chair/Editor shall be four (4) years with an

optional 4-year renewable term (Standing Rules, J-4).

The NFMC Bulletin Editor serves as an ex-officio member on the Festivals Committee (Standing

Rules, J-4).

See current NFMC Manual for additional information.

SPECIALLY CAPABLE JUNIOR OR ADULT MUSICIAN

• In any section or event, regular rules regarding memorization, progression, and choice of

materials may be altered for entrants who have been identified as physically or mentally

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challenged (General Rules 2017 Bulletin, pg. 3).

• Specially Capable Junior Musician identifies a junior who needs special exceptions to the

General Rules. SCJM is not an event or class (General Rules 2017 Bulletin, pg. 3).

• Specially Capable Adult Musician identifies an adult who needs special exceptions to the

General Rules. SCAM is not an event or class (JR 3-13).

• SCJM may be a temporary or a permanent identification. Some juniors may have

temporary problems which would identify them as SCJM. They would return to standard

rules when the problems cease (General Rules 2017 Bulletin, pg. 3).

• When a teacher is seeking SCJM status for a student, he/she must complete Form JR 3-

13 (SCJM Official Application) which can be downloaded from the NFMC website under

“Publications” and obtain the parent/legal guardian’s signature if the entrant is under age

18. This form should be submitted to the Area Chair at the time of entry. Based on the

nature of the entrant’s special capabilities, instructions, and information on modifications

allowed to the entrant will be provided for the judges (General Rules 2017 Bulletin, pg. 3).

• The needs of the junior entrant must be clearly specified. Any special accommodations in

the audition process, which would facilitate the junior entrant’s ability to have a successful

festival experience needs to be included on the application form (JR 3-13).

• Neither the words ‘Specially Capable Junior Musician’ nor the initials ‘SCJM’ are to appear

on the rating sheet, nor are they to be placed on any Federation Cup or certificate earned

by the junior (General Rules 2017 Bulletin, pg. 3).

• Parent(s)/Guardian(s) are to be given complete instructions regarding the audition process

for their SCJM. The teacher is responsible for discussing any necessary accommodations

with the parent/guardian of the junior entrant and for obtaining their written permission prior

to submitting the SCJM applications to the Festival Site/State Festivals Chair (JR 3-13).

• Information and instructions to the judge(s) at the time of the entrant’s audition must be

understood by the adult entrant, parent/guardian, teacher, and Festival Site Chair (JR 3-

13).

• Judges should be made aware of any accommodation(s) to the entrant’s audition process

prior to the entrant entering the audition room. It is the Festival Site Chair’s responsibility to

notify the judge(s) of adjustments (JR 3-13).

• Any information listed on the judging form should be removed directly after the audition

and handed to the parent/guardian for safekeeping (JR 3-13).

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• The SCJM/SCAM application must be re-submitted in subsequent years. As entrants

mature and grow, the need for different accommodations or the removal of this designation

may be needed. The parent/guardian must always be consulted regarding entry as a

SCJM (JR 3-13)

• In rare instances of Adult Festival participants requiring Specially Capable Musician

designation, the current SCJM form can be used as there is not a specific form for

Specially Capable Adult Musician, aka SCAM. If the Adult still has a legal guardian, that

guardian must sign the form. If the individual is a legal adult and does not have a legal

guardian, written parental/guardian consent does not need to be obtained, but the

individual should give his/her consent by writing his/her signature in the space on the form

where the parent/guardian would normally sign.

SCORES

Published scores of the required and choice compositions must be provided for the judges


Scores electronically produced or hand copied are prohibited. Only compositions in their original

form and published key(s) will be acceptable with these exceptions:

a. Vocalists may use scores that have been legally electronically produced to provide the

appropriate vocal range.

b. Entrants may use legally produced scores from vendors provided they include the letter

of permission that accompanies this music. This includes music purchased on CD or in

an app that allows for scores to be printed. If the authorization to print is not for the user,

then the authorization to print for multiple users must be included in the verification.

c. Legally downloaded scores must include the verification that the download is from a

valid source. Verification could be a document printed from the download website or

verification printed on each page of the download (General Rules 2017 Bulletin, pg. 4).

The use of transposed electronically reproduced music will be allowed in Junior Festivals for

vocal events only (Standing Rules, K-2; 8-11-96).

NFMC will honor and uphold copyright law. Festival leaders and teachers need to educate

themselves concerning the legitimacy of downloaded music from the Internet and proof of

intellectual property.

Any score to be used in an NFMC Festival Audition must be accompanied by a proof of

purchase, permission to use the score, or a studio license obtained by the teacher/junior

counselor/ senior club member prior to submitting the entrant for an audition. Proof must

accompany the score at the time of entry if a computer download is used in place of a

commercially printed score. It is recommended that all music and proof of purchase should be

hardcopy and given to the Area Festival Chair at time of entry and, once approved, to the judges

at the time of audition.

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Proof of Public Domain

Individuals should only use a public domain composition if they have proof of public

domain from a legitimate source. If that legitimate source is not in their possession, there is no

way to prove beyond a doubt the music being used is actually in the public domain and not from a

copyrighted source. A legitimate source is defined as a tangible copy of the work with a copyright

date old enough to be in the public domain.

When an individual uses music that is in the public domain as either a download from the

Internet or from a CD with music scores loaded and available for use, proof of public domain is

the responsibility of the teacher and/or entrant. Proof should be submitted at the time of entry

into an NFMC Festival Audition and must accompany the score and be made available at the

time of audition by the teacher and/or entrant.

State and Area Festivals have the right to determine if legitimate proof exists before

allowing the use of a score from the public domain.

NO photocopied music will be allowed in the audition room unless accompanied by written

permission from the publisher, stating that the selection is out-of-print. Teachers are cautioned to

seek this permission well in advance of the Festival date (General Rules 2017 Bulletin, pg. 4).

Accompanists who use illegal photocopied music will result in the disqualification of the entrant.

All events, including Hymn Playing, American Patriotic/Folk Songs, and Accompanying, require strict adherence to the score. Embellished accompaniments, hymns, and/or APFS will result in student disqualification.

NFMC FEDERATION CUP

Purpose

The purpose of the Federation Cup Program is to provide extrinsic motivation for learners of all

ages to continue their musical training through participation in festivals and earning points to

receive festival cups. The plan, which is sponsored by the NFMC, is available to all entrants in

the NFMC Festivals program, including adults. Accumulation of points is not affected by an

interruption in Festival participation or rating progression (NFMC Manual 2015-2017, pg. 91).

General

Any participant entering an event in the NFMC Festival is eligible to enter the Federation Cup

Award Plan. Participation is optional but points earned must be in conjunction with the NFMC

Festivals. Cups are awarded on a point system based on Festival ratings. Federation Gold Cups

are earned only in the Junior Division (up to age 19) and Federation Silver Cup points are

earned only in the Adult Division (age 19 and above). Points in each Division are totaled

separately (Standing Rules, K-2).

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There is no crossover of ratings or points from Junior and Adult Festivals (Standing Rules, K-2).

Each state should have a Federation Cup Chair (May 2015).

State Presidents must appoint a State Federation Cup Chair who will be responsible for verifying

points, keeping accurate state records, approving and ordering all cups. Only State Federation

Cup Chairs are authorized to order cups from NFMC headquarters (Manual 2015 – 2017 pg. 91).

Federation Cup funds should be accounted separately from Festival funds (NFMC Bulletin 2017,

pg. 11 and NFMC Standing Rules).

A Junior or Adult entered in the Federation Cup plan should pay cup fees prior to each Festival

entered. Each state determines the amount of the cup fee and the time and method of payment.

A fee should be paid regardless of rating earned for the accumulation of points (NFMC Bulletin

2017 pg. 12).

If a participant discontinues participation in Festival, there is no refund (NFMC Bulletin 2017, pg.

13)

No fees may be paid to claim retroactive points (NFMC Bulletin 2017, pg. 13).

When a cup entrant moves to a new teacher or place of residence, the point history and cup

records will be automatically transferred once the student’s records are located using the Online

Festivals Management System. Fees are not transferred from one state to another (NFMC

Bulletin 2017, pg. 13).

If local or state clubs give out a non-NFMC cup, it is a local or state recognition, not NFMC

recognition. The participant will not be recognized in NFMC publications. The cup should not be

called a Federation Cup, nor represented as such.

The Online Festivals Management System will automatically enroll entrants in the Federation

Cup plan. If the entrant does not wish to participate in the Federation Cup plan, the teacher must

make the selection to “opt out.”

NFMC FEDERATION CUP CHAIR RESPONSIBILITES

National Federation Cup Chair Responsibilities

The NFMC Federation Cup Chair oversees the NFMC Federation Cup Program.

The NFMC Federation Cup Chair serves on the NFMC Festival Committee (Standing Rules, J-

4).

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The NFMC Federation Cup Chair needs to give approval for Grand (75 – point) and Presidential

(90 – point) cups. The JR 4-1 form should come from the State Federation Cup Chair. The

process is from the teacher to Area Chair to State Chair to National Cup Chair.

State Federation Cup Chair Responsibilities (Manual 2015-2017, pg. 91)

• State Federation Cup Chairs should study carefully the cup rules in the current Festivals

Bulletin and be sure that all local and Area Federation Cup Chairs understand these rules.

• Chairs should keep abreast of and communicate all policy and procedural changes to

Area Festival Cup Chairs.

• State Chairs must follow all directives set forth by the National Federation Cup Chair and

relay all pertinent information to the Area/Center/District Cup Chairs in a timely manner.

• Chairs must keep accurate state records. All student records should be kept until the

student reaches age 19.

• Each state will determine an annual entry fee; set the time, amount and method of

payment for these fees.

• State Chairs should collaborate with State Festivals Chairs in conducting workshops for

state conferences.

• State Chairs must validate all points, sign and send all Grand Cup and President’s Cup

applications to the NFMC Federation Cup Chair for approval using a CURRENT JR 4-1

form. Outdated forms will be returned for resubmission on current forms and may cause a

delay in the student receiving his/her cup.

• All cup supplies must be ordered from NFMC Headquarters. (See the current Festivals

Bulletin for the complete list).

• State Federation Cup Chairs are the ONLY authorized personnel who can order cups

from Headquarters using the JR 4-3 form.

• All NFMC dues/fees must be up-to-date and paid before cups can be ordered and/or

received.

NFMC FEDERATION CUP PLAN (Manual 2015-2017, pg. 92)

• Points accumulate every year the student is entered into the plan. The first cup is earned

when point totals reach fifteen (15). Points over the amount necessary for the next cup

are carried over and credited toward the next size cup.

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• Festival participants earn points toward a cup in a single event and may not combine

event points with the following exceptions/alternations in piano events (See rules in

Bulletin): Concerto Junior III, Senior Concerto, Lynn Freeman Olson Solo, ensemble

events (duet, trio, quartet, duo piano).

• An entrant may work simultaneously towards a cup in more than one event but he/she

must pay the required fee for each event entered in which they desire to accumulate

points towards a cup.

• Points will be transferred from state to state using the Festival Transfer Information (JR 3-

1) form if and when an entrant moves to a different state. However, cup fees are non-

transferrable (See General Rules in current Festivals Bulletin).

NFMC MUSICIANSHIP/THEORY

(For procedures regarding theory test ordering, please see page 12 of this publication)

Purpose

The purpose of the theory event is to encourage teachers to emphasize the importance of music

theory and history to their students in addition to proficiency on their instruments or in vocal

performance and to motivate students to analyze their music at more profound levels so they

can gain greater insights into interpretation, style, musicality, practice routines, and

memorization techniques.

Definition

Theory focuses on pitch, notation, rhythm, scales, key signatures, intervals, chords,

transposition, composition and harmonization, study of instruments, historical periods and

composers, forms, and definitions.

NFMC Theory Advisor Responsibilities

• To oversee the NFMC Theory program.

• To create and/or adjust the NFMC Festivals Theory and Answer Keys and practice tests.

• To appoint a proofreading committee to proof the theory tests and answer keys for the

following year before distribution to the State Festivals Chairs.

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